The transformer explosion that crippled Brooklyn subway service for 1000’s of passengers in 2024 got here after employees failed to finish greater than half of required security checks at {an electrical} substation, based on the MTA inspector basic.
The discovering was a part of a wider audit of New York Metropolis Transit’s substation upkeep program that discovered 19% of required upkeep assignments went unfinished systemwide in 2024, fireplace alarm “hassle” indicators have been routinely ignored, required security protocols weren’t constantly adopted and the company didn’t have a centralized system for monitoring gear defects.
The December 11, 2024, explosion despatched flames by a sidewalk grate and stranded greater than 4,000 riders between the Jay Avenue-MetroTech and Hoyt-Schermerhorn stations for about two hours earlier than first responders have been capable of evacuate passengers.
NYC Transit later decided that water had leaked by break up copper tubing contained in the transformer and combined with artificial oil, ultimately triggering the explosion.
However the MTA by no means bothered to find out what induced the tubing to separate — and despatched a carpenter to examine the defective electrical gear moderately than an electrician, the report stated.
“The post-incident evaluation of the State Avenue substation was carried out by NYC Transit personnel with out electrical {qualifications}, not by a producer or guide with related experience,” the inspector basic wrote.
The carpenter stated a specialist can be introduced in to look at the transformer, however “no such professional evaluation ever came about,” based on the report.
The gear was disassembled through the carpenter’s evaluation and later left outdoors in poor climate, destroying the potential of figuring out why the copper tubing failed.
The shoddy consideration to security even within the aftermath of a significant explosion adopted a sample of carelessness for the MTA.
The inspector basic discovered that 52% of required upkeep assignments on the State Avenue facility in downtown Brooklyn had not been accomplished between April 2024 and the December blast.
The visits are to have employees examine and preserve the generally decades-old gear that sends electrical energy to the third rail.
The audit discovered different security hazards throughout the remainder of the system too.
In any respect six substations with fireplace alarm programs visited by investigators, fireplace alarm management panels displayed a “hassle” sign indicating the programs weren’t functioning correctly — however MTA employees “took no discover,” the report stated.
The inspector basic additionally discovered that no MTA workplace or outdoors firm was answerable for monitoring the panels’ hassle indicators.
Smoke sensors have been additionally not being maintained or examined, the report stated.
Inspectors additionally discovered employees weren’t carrying the right protecting gear for sudden electrical blasts, which may trigger extreme burns or be lethal.
The report famous NYC Transit improved its systemwide upkeep completion fee in 2025, with the share of uncompleted assignments falling to 10%.
However not at State Avenue the place 14 of 35 scheduled assignments, or 40%, nonetheless went unfinished from April by November 2025.
NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow stated the MTA has restructured its groups because of its embarrassing security failures.
“Missed inspections of energy substations are unacceptable and management of the Energy Division has been restructured — splitting oversight of energy and indicators — to deal with enhancing upkeep practices and upgrading crucial infrastructure,” Crichlow stated.
